Police respond to terror attacks on London Bridge, nearby market

A photograph taken on a mobile phone shows British police cars blocking the entrance to London Bridge, after an incident on the bridge. Witnesses reported seeing a van mounting the pavement and hitting pedestrians. (Daniel Sorabji, AFP/Getty Images)

LONDON — At least six people died and three attackers were killed in multiple "terrorist incidents" Saturday in London after a van plowed into pedestrians on London Bridge and assailants went on a stabbing rampage nearby, police say.

London Ambulance Service said they had taken at least 30 patients to six hospitals, and treated a number of people at the scene with less serious injuries.

Mark Rowley, head of counter-terrorism for Metropolitan Police, said police believe all of the attackers were killed, but investigations are underway to ensure there are no more.

Police said in a tweet that "the incidents at #LondonBridge & #BoroughMarket were declared as terrorist incidents" and appeared to be connected. It was not entirely clear if the police operation was over.

Earlier, Prime Minister Theresa May said the attacks were being investigated as a "potential act of terrorism."

The first incident took place on London Bridge, where witnesses described seeing a white van mounting the sidewalk and injuring at least six people at about 10:30 p.m. . A BBC reporter who was on the bridge at the time said the van was being driven at around 50 mph by a male suspect.

The BBC said one person was confirmed dead. British Transport Police said they have received reports of multiple casualties.

London Bridge, which crosses the River Thames in London, was closed in both directions.

In the incident at Borough Market, a nearby area that houses many food stalls and pubs and is popular with tourists, Metropolitan police said armed officers had been sent to the area after reports of stabbings at a restaurant.

The British Prime Minister's office said May was being regularly updated on the situation, and the White House said President Trump has been briefed.

"Whatever the United States can do to help out in London and the U. K., we will be there - WE ARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS!" Trump tweeted.

Reports of the incident reflected fear that the incident could be terrorism. Britain has weathered two terrorism attacks in recent months. In March, four people were killed in London after Khalid Masood rammed his car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before fatally stabbing a policeman outside the Houses of Parliament.

On May 22, a British-born suicide bomber killed 22 people and injured 59 others at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England.

The attack came on the eve of a benefit concert Grande is scheduled to play in Manchester on Sunday in aid of the victims and their families.